• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Alert

ALERT: Update on Maintenance and Upgrades at Central Library More Info

Home - Arlington County Virginia - Logo
MENUMENU
  • Join Now
  • My Account
    • Login
    • My Checkouts
    • My Holds
    • My Lists
    • My Reading History
    • About Borrowing
    • About Holds
    • About My Account
  • Hours & Locations
    • All Hours & Locations
    • Holiday Closings
  • News
    • Library News
    • Director's Blog
    • Get Email Updates
  • Contact Us

Arlington Public Library

MENUMENU
  • Search
  • Collections
  • Services
  • Events
  • Explore
  • Join Now
  • My Account
    • Login
    • About Borrowing
    • About Holds
    • About My Account
  • Hours & Locations
    • All Hours & Locations
    • Holiday Closings
  • News
    • Library Blog
    • Get Email Updates
  • Contact Us

Too Cool for Yule, 2021

Post Published: November 29, 2021

Social Media Ads_Facebook

Since 2008, I have created a holiday playlist variously known as “Don’t Touch that Dial” or "Too Cool for Yule." (There is even a movement afoot to change the name to the “Ding a Ling Thing,” but I digress.)

Many years ago, I made mixtapes for my friends, my siblings, my work colleagues, and often, just for me. For those of you under the age of... fill in the blank... who might not have had the pleasure of methodically mining for nuggets in an LP collection, or waiting patiently by the radio for the hourly replay of the one tune that truly captures the essence of the person you are making the tape for, the mixtape can be a work of art. Each tape tells a story, and the best ones contain an eclectic blend of edgy and whimsical, happy and sad; a little silly, a little snappy and occasionally, a little sappy.

A couple of notes about this year’s edition. Each year I honor a few of the musicians who have left us. Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, Graeme Edge of the Moody Blues, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, and Don Everly, the last surviving member of the Everly Brothers, sadly made it to the list. (I wanted to honor Nanci Griffith but could not locate a suitable holiday song.)

Open playlist in Spotify

Listeners will find pop, jazz, instrumental, New Orleans, country, bluegrass, R&B, old school pop, The Chipmunks, and more. Perhaps my favorite is a bluesy tune by the inimitable Fats Domino, who wants to “Stop the Clock.” Wouldn’t we all.

The last words and notes go to Dave Frishberg, brilliant jazz pianist and satirist, musical mainstay of Schoolhouse Rock (“I’m Just a Bill"), who died November 17. His talk-singing of “You are There” touchingly sums it up for anyone who misses special someones.

As Year Two of the pandemic winds down, take a moment (or 5760 -- thank you, Alexa), grab a beverage, any kind will do, and enjoy “Too Cool for Yule 2021.”

And above all…

Stay safe, stay hopeful.

Diane Kresh
Director
Arlington Public Library

Scrawled signature of Diane Kresh

November 29, 2021 by Web Editor Tagged With: yule blog

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Thom Downing says

    December 1, 2021 at 2:07 PM

    Wow – how did I not know about your holiday playlists before now? I’m really enjoying this year’s collection – thanks so much.

    I’ve liked and collected Christmas music forever and have always made mixes – first on cassette, then CD and now as Spotify playlists. I didn’t get it together to create a new playlist for this year, but below are links to the previous three that I curated. You’ll see some crossover between our lists, specifically Jeremy Lister, Zach Gill, and Ana Gasteyer, and so I’m hopeful that these mixes will be fun for you and will help to inspire your future efforts.

    Thanks again – what a great holiday treat!

    Just Can’t Wait For Rudolph (1 hr, 1 min)
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2AgjP7uQFzDbbT6d35MtFE?si=HKHJM8UaTyiqHfQkkIUQeQ

    Just Can’t Wait for Santa (1 hr, 9 mins)
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4CzpM26FH4v38tHbLsI3T0?si=7hZly11XR0-cpV1TtPy0sw

    Just Can’t Wait For Christmas (2 hr, 42 min)
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3fDFXzJi5qCgTxRPQvIt82?si=IyrKGGe9R1K4pLIit-ncFQ

    • Diane Kresh says

      December 2, 2021 at 6:50 AM

      Hi Thom:

      Many thanks for emailing us. I’m delighted to connect with a fellow traveler in Christmas music. Looking forward to listening to your mix tapes. Thnx for sharing.

      Best of the season to you and yours.

      Diane

Primary Sidebar


DK high school photo

Arlington County Native and Library Director Diane Kresh


A woman browses books in a brightly lit aisle at Arlington Public Library, pulling a hardcover from the shelf while reading the back cover. Books fill the shelves around her in a well-organized collection.

Director’s Message: Collections Updates


June 23, 2025


A banner at Central Library's east entrance reads "Library: Come as you are. Celebrating Pride." On a rainbow progress pride flag background, with flowers visible in the foreground.

Director’s Message: Taking Pride in Stride


May 27, 2025


Link to blog post.

Director’s Message: The Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden


May 12, 2025


Read more from the Director’s blog

Footer

About Us

  • Mission & Vision
  • Charlie Clark Center for Local History
  • News Room
  • Get Email Updates

Administration

  • Policies
  • Library Staff
  • Job Opportunities
  • Propose a Program or Partnership

Support Your Library

  • Friends of the Library
  • Giving Opportunities
  • Donating Materials
  • Volunteer Opportunities

Our Mission

We champion the power of stories, information and ideas.

We create space for culture and connection.

We embrace inclusion and diverse points of view.
























Download the Library App

Download the Library App

Arlington County | Terms & Conditions | Accessibility | Site Map
· Copyright © 2025 Arlington County Government ·